The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-06-16
wished that he had brought some

wished that he had brought some
other sermon than the particular one
he had prepared, and OF which he had
been so proud. Somehow it did not
seem to him like q message from the
King. He could not remember that
there were in it any beseeching words
for unreconciled sinners.
Scarcely lifting his eyes from his
manuscript, turning the pages rapid.
ly, emitting q paragraph here and
there when he could, he hurried on to
the end. Only once he stopped, when
he heard behind him deep sigh, as OF
pain, and looking back saw the stran.
ger, with n grieved expression upon his
face, looking down upon his hands.
And Theophilus perceived then, Tor the
first time, that they had been pierced
with nails, and they were quite bloody.
And he remembered how he had SOL
EMMY vowed to preach nothing save
Jesus Christ and him cruciiied. And
he shuddered, and had almost forgot
ten HIMSELF and in the presence OF the
people cried aloud; "God be merciiul
to me sinner"
After the closing prayer, he was
about to give out the hymn, as usual,
when he heard voice behind him say,
in tone so loud that it seemed as il
the people must hear: Read the let
ter thou hast prepared"
The letter of resienationl He had
forgotten all about it. How could he
read it? He wished that he had taken
good advice, and had not been so
hasty. He thought OF Pilates wife, and
her disregarded warning. Oh, ifhe might
take back all that he had said, and
have space given him to profit by
what he had now learned, and begin
anew as an humble, faithful ambassa-
dor OF Christ, and herald OF the cross.
He wept as he thought how
proud he had been, and how unfaith-
ful. No wonder his people had found
fault, No wonder, their hungry souls
unfed, they had left him and gone else
where.
But the voice said "Read," and he
did not dare to disobey. So he drew
the paper from his book, and was
about to begin, when a dimness came
over his vision. He grew weak and
faint, his knees trembled, and he stag
gered in his place. He seemed to see
his people rising, and reaching their
hands toward him to keep him from
falling, and then he awoke.
His wife was speaking to him, you
have had troubled dream, 1heophi-
lus," she said.
"Thank God, Mary" he exclaimed,
with deep sigh OF relief. "Thank
God, the Sunday has not yet come.
1t is not too late. That paltry ser.
mon is still in my drawer, and shall
never preach it."
"Why, what do you mean?"
al mean" he replied solmnly,
"that | have been in the presence
ofthe King. My God and Saviour
has been here. You know | never
had great faith in visions, but had
vision tonight that trust ] never
shall forget"
And then he told her all.
The next morning Mr.. Hybrow put
into his study stove the sermon on
progress, and several Others OF his
"best efforts" When the Sabbath
came, he went into his pulpit, and,
taking for his text "Thus saith the
Lord" he told his people, with tears
in his eyes, how guilty he had been
that he had been too proud to preach
Jesus Christ and him crucified; and
then he told them OF his promise for
the future, that henceforth he would
endeavor to be faithful ambassador
OF the great King.
Every afternoon OF the following
week found the pastor out among his
hitherto neglected flock. How sur.
prised and glad they were to see him!
"What ais our minister" said one
old farmer. HAS he got the second
blessin' that I heard 'em >ell about
last summer"
Theophilus smiled when he heard
OF the remark. He had got blessing
that he was sure OF.
One Saturday night, about three
months after ths-a three months oil
precious revival-Mr. Hybrow said to
his wife: "Mary, my dear, do you re
member what | said, not long ago.
about this place-that they did not
appreciate mel was too intellectual
for themY So foolish was ], and t.
norantl It's rather humbling to ac-
knowledge. but the fact about the mat.
ter was, did not appreciate them"
The Rev. Thophilus Hybrow has
not yet resigned. Maine Minister, in
the Congrecationalist.